Dare I ask the hard question?

To what purpose are you using your influence?

Said King Solomon to God, “Give me wisdom and knowledge to lead the people properly.”

I am both convicted and inspired by Solomon’s humble request.

He did not ask the Lord for wealth or for fame. He did not ask for a platform to make his own name great.

Instead, he asked for wisdom to help lead his people well. He asked for knowledge to continue God’s great name among the people.

He could have asked for ANYTHING and God would have given it to him. But the desire of his heart was simply to govern his people well.

As church leaders, writers, parents, manager’s and influencer’s, etc, the weight of our words and our actions carry a responsibility to lead “our people’ well. With grace, truth, wisdom, humility and love.

Are we using our influence to help others? Or to help ourselves?

An honest reflection might reveal something we’d rather not see.

Prayer for Today

Lord, may the desires of our heart’s always be to use our sphere of influence, (no matter how big or how small), to lead your people well.

Bless us with wisdom and knowledge, so that our words, actions, and intentions bring glory to you.

And give us a heart of humility, for Your name’s sake!

In Jesus’ name, amen.

Stories of Hope Series

There are still a few topics left to cover in my upcoming Stories of Hope series. Topics include: infidelity, divorce, grave diagnosis, abortion, loss of child, addiction, abuse, and death of a spouse.

If you are interested in submitting an article for this upcoming series, (and being featured RIGHT HERE), please take a moment to view the following pages.

For Submission Guidelines: Visit the, Stories of Hope, Guest Post Guidelines.

For a list of topics, and to sign up: Visit the, Stories of Hope, Sign Up Spreadsheet.

Thank you for prayerfully considering this opportunity!

Time to link arms and link up! We're working hard at building a #writingcommunity of #christianbloggers who want to encourage, support and PRAY for one another. And there's a place here just for YOU! Share on X

Let’s Link Arms by Linking Up!

1. Linkup 1-2 inspiring, family-friendly, posts using the Inlinkz tool below.
2. Visit the link directly in front of you, leave a comment and share/pin their post.
3. PRAY for the person directly in front of you!!

    

    An InLinkz Link-up
    

Exciting opportunity for my fellow blogging sisters!

I am looking for a few good women who would like to contribute to my upcoming series titled, Stories of Hope: Rediscovering Hope in the Midst of____.

Some topics include, (but are not limited to): Infertility, Grave Diagnosis, Rejection, Suicide, Loss of a Child, Divorce, Sexual Abuse, Death of Spouse, Church Hurt, etc.

I am SO excited about this series, as the Lord has laid it heavily on my heart.

But I can’t do it without YOU!

[Read more…]

Merry Christmas from My Home to Yours!

*Please note that I will be closing the linkup throughout the rest of December, to enjoy these last few weeks of 2018 with my family. I hope to see you return here in the new year!!*

I can hardly believe that this year is nearly over! So many wonderful memories were made, new opportunities embraced, and beautiful growth experienced.

My “one word” for 2018 was love. It seems like a fairly simple word to make my general focus, and yet I wonder who else among you would agree that loving doesn’t always come easily, does it?  

The Lord used this year to stretch me, and grow me.. sometimes painfully beyond my comfort level, but it was good and glorious and holy, all at the same time. 

I pray that I have become a little more like Jesus, because of it. 

New Year, New Vision

As I’ve been prayerfully contemplating the “one word” the Lord would have me focus on for this year, I was reminded of this scripture verse:

And the Lord answered me:
“Write the vision; make it plain on tablets, so he may run who reads it.
 For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end—it will not lie.
If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay.”(Habukkuk 2:2-3 ESV)

God gives us vision! Isn’t that an exciting truth to behold?

As I prepare my heart for the savior’s birth, and prayerfully discern the Lord’s direction for the new year, it is my prayer that He will ignite me with a vision for the coming year!

This is my prayer for you as well. 

Pray with me:

Lord, what a year we have had! If there is anything to recount, it is that you have been so very good to us. And we are forever grateful..

May we finish out the year strong- making room for the savior’s coming, and precious time spent with the ones we love. 

Help us to rest when we need to rest, reflect when we need to reflect, mourn when we need to mourn, celebrate when we need to celebrate, and above all- help us to love when we need to love.

Jesus, you are our greatest example!

Light a fire under our bellies and ignite a vision within our heart’s! Make yourself known. Speak clearly and precisely. Open our ears to hear, and our eyes to see the glorious things that await us. Let your Word be a lamp unto our feet, and a light unto our path. Give us a passion and great desire for what You are passionate about! Equip us for the new year!

In Jesus’ name. Amen.

See you in 2019, friends!!

Tweet This

Time to link arms and linkup! We’re working hard at building a #community of #faithbloggers who encourage, support and PRAY for one another. And there’s a place just for YOU!

Let’s Link Arms by Linking Up!

1. Linkup 1-2 inspiring, family-friendly, posts using the Inlinkz tool below.
2. Visit the link directly in front of you, leave a comment and share/pin their post.
3. PRAY for the person directly in front of you!!

 

Prayer:

Father, I thank you that you sent your son, Immanuel, to be God with us. Jesus in our midst. 

Whatever we face, we know we do not face it alone. Your presence goes before us, to make our way straight. You are our rear guard, to keep us safe. And you are ever present with us, leading and guiding, so that we do not walk alone.

It’s true that the holidays don’t always speak of happy days. Life can be busy. Family can be messy. And we can be lonely. 

While we certainly long for hope, peace, joy and love. Sometimes there is despair, chaos, sorrow, or hate.

Praise God that Immanuel is here! He is now. Forevermore.

May we intentionally pause throughout this season, to witness you in our midst. 

In Jesus’ name. Amen.

[Read more…]

 

With advent season right around the corner, I wanted to take these next few weeks leading up to Christmas, to focus on different aspects of the Savior’s coming birth.

What better way to start the season, than with Mary!

This particular passage of scripture moves me every time! Oh, that I would be so surrendered to God’s plans in my own life!

 

Pray this with me:

Lord, may the desires of our heart directly align with yours, in every season, and in every aspect of our lives.

When the unexpected comes knocking at our door, may we SO fully trust in your goodness, that our response is as humble and confident as that of Mary’s.

May we never be so full of ourselves, that we neglect to see what you are doing (or wanting to do) in and through us.

As you daily invite us to join you in holy work, refine us through your Word and by your Spirit, so that we are prepared and equipped for service.

Help us to be wholly surrendered to you. Soften the rugged and stubborn edges that we are so prone to default to.

Open the eyes of our hearts to see the miracle of Christ’s birth afresh and anew, this season. 

And Father, when we fall short, (because chances are we will!) let us fall directly into your arms, where we are held, and we are loved.

In Jesus’ name. Amen.

 

Time to link arms and linkup! We're working hard at building a #community of #faithbloggers who encourage, support and PRAY for one another. And there's a place just for YOU! Share on X

 

Let’s Link Arms by Linking Up!

1. Linkup 1-2 inspiring, family-friendly, posts using the Inlinkz tool below.
2. Visit the link directly in front of you, leave a comment and share/pin their post.
3. PRAY for the person directly in front of you!!